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A CEREMONIAL RESOLUTION
21-83
IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
June 30, 2015
To recognize and honor Dr. Patrick J. Canavan for his years of dedicated public service to the District of Columbia in the fields of mental health and government administration.
WHEREAS, Dr. Patrick J. Canavan was born in 1962 in Elizabeth, New Jersey;
WHEREAS, Dr. Patrick J. Canavan has earned several degrees over the course of his career, receiving a degree in English & Religious Studies from Villanova University in 1974, a Master’s of Education in Counseling & Student Personnel from the University of Delaware in 1986, and a Doctor’s of Psychology from the Illinois School of Profession Psychology in 1995;
WHEREAS, Dr. Patrick J. Canavan is a Certified Public Manager after receiving training at the George Washington University and completed the Program for Senior Executives in State and Local Governments at Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government;
WHEREAS, Dr. Patrick J. Canavan started his career in District government as a Forensic Psychology Fellow with the DC Commission on Mental Health Services at Saint Elizabeths Hospital from 1993 through 1996 before advancing in to the role of Clinical Administrator, where he served for 3 more years;
WHEREAS, Dr. Patrick J. Canavan continued in his role in District government, moving on to the Office of the City Administrator in 1999, where he served as a Special Assistant before being tapped as the Director of the Office of Neighborhood Services, creating a 16-agency neighborhood services program designed to create and sustain clean, safe, healthy, and economically vibrant neighborhoods in the District;
WHEREAS, Dr. Patrick J. Canavan was confirmed as Director of the Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs in 2005 during the administration of Mayor Anthony Williams, helping to create the Office of the Chief Tenant Advocate along with the Illegal Construction Unit, restored the Office of Consumer Protection, and reduced permit application backlogs from over 5,200 to less than 400;
WHEREAS, Dr. Patrick J. Canavan left his post at DCRA to return to Saint Elizabeths Hospital in early 2007 when he was appointed as their Chief Executive Officer during a troubling time when the facility was in disrepair and under federal investigation;
WHEREAS, Dr. Patrick J. Canavan, during his tenure at Saint Elizabeths, had a truly impressive list of accomplishments to help turn around the struggling facility, including successfully managing the United States Department of Justice (“DOJ”) Settlement Agreement by instituting significant improvements across a wide range of clinical practices, fully complying with the 224 requirements under the DOJ resulting in the dismissal of the federal lawsuit in 2014, as well as managing the completion and transition to the new $143 million replacement hospital on time with minimal disruption to those in care of the hospital; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Patrick J. Canavan has made a significant impact on the District of Columbia with his dedication to public service and the field of mental health.
IT IS HEREBY RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, that the Council of the District of Columbia recognizes, thanks, and honors Dr. Patrick J. Canavan for his lengthy career of service at Saint Elizabeths Hospital and various District government agencies, and to the residents of the District of Columbia
Sec. 2. This resolution may be cited as the “Dr. Patrick J. Canavan Recognition Resolution of 2015”.
Sec. 3. This resolution shall take effect immediately upon the first date of publication in the District of Columbia Register.
